A 65-year-old woman developed erythema, papules and nodules over the body. Some nodules of her auricles and hands like string beads. Besides, she suffered from symmetrical swelling and pain of multiple joints, morning stiffness with deformity of joints; She had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein levels; Her rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody were positive; Joints destruction was found with X-ray imaging; Skin pathology showed Dermal infiltrate of abundant histiocytes, part of them with a ground-glass appearance; A CD68 immunohistochemical stain was positive and the cells were negative for S100, CD1a. These findings were diagnostic evidences of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH). The patient received high-dose of glucocorticoids combinated with immunosuppressive agents, and achieved a satisfactory effect. MRH was a rare multisystem disease characterized by papulonodular mucocutaneous and destructive arthritis, and its pathogeny was not yet completely understood. The typical lesions of MRH were hard papules or nodules that usually occured on the hands, face and arms. Classic coral bead appearance from periungual cutaneous nodules that were characteristic of MRH. MRH was an inflammatory joint disease, affecting almost all the appendicular joints and characterized by joint multiple, symmetrical, destructive, progressive disability. Joints destruction of the distal interphalangeal joints was a unique feature of MRH. In addition to skin and joints, it could also involve other systems. There were no diagnostic laboratory markers for MRH. Laboratory examinations had often been found to be non-specific. Imageological examination mainly showed bone and joint destruction. Skin biopsy was the best test to diagnose MRH, the typical histopathological findings included an infiltrate with histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells with a ground-glass appearing in eosinophilic cytoplasm, and the immunohistochemical stain was positive for CD68. The diagnosis was typically made based on the clinical presentation, supportive radiographic findings and skin biopsy. MRH was easily possible to mistake for other more common autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and dermatomyositis, but the distinctive clinical, radiographic, and histologic features could aid in differentiating these diseases. MRH could mimic other rheumatic diseases, besides, it could also coexist with cancer or other autoimmune disorders. There was no standardized treatment for MRH. However, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoid, Immunosuppressant, biologic medications, and bisphosphonates had been used with varying degrees of curative effect. Treatment with glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressants were effective for rash and arthritis, early use of them should be strongly considered, and refractory cases could be treated with biological agents. By reporting a MRH case and reviewing literature, this paper aims to help the clinicians improve the understanding of this rare disease, and suggests that when one diagnosis cannot explain the whole picture of the disease, and further evidence should be sought to confirm the diagnosis.
Aged ; Arthritis, Psoriatic ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; Radiography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the classification criteria of early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and compare the sensitivity and specificity with the criteria of 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). METHODS: Patients from 4 hospitals, aged more than 16 years, with arthritis, whose disease duration was ≤1 year, and with ≥1 joint pain and swelling were enrolled in the study. The indicators including clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and imaging examinations were observed. The ERA patients were dignosed by two experienced rheumatologists based on the clinical features, drug therapy information and radiography features. RESULTS: (1) A total of 325 patients with arthritis were enrolled, including 98 males (30.15%) and 227 females (69.85%), The average age was (47.53±14.44) years, and the median disease duration was 5 (2, 8) months. Finally, 236 patients were dignosed with ERA, and 89 patients were dignosed with other diseases (Non-ERA, including osteoarthritis, reactive arthritis, undifferentiated arthritis, spondyloarthritis, etc). (2) The sensitivity of ERA criteria was 87.29%, and the specificity was 84.37%. The sensitivity was higher than that of 1987 ACR criteria (χ²=43.641, P < 0.001), and had no significant difference compared with 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (χ²=0.446, P=0.593). But the specificity of ERA criteria was lower than that of 1987 ACR criteria (χ²=4.891, P=0.027), which was not statistically significant compared with 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (χ²=0.044, P=1.000). (3) In the patients with arthritis whose disease duration was ≤3 months and ≤6 months, the sensitivity of ERA criteria was 81.71% and 86.79%, respectively, both were higher than the 1987 ACR criteria (χ²=7.131, P=0.008; χ²=22.015, P < 0.001) and had no statistically difference compared with the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (χ²=0.220, P=0.755; χ²=0.473, P=0.491). The differences of the three criteria in specificity were not statistically significant. (4) The three different classification criteria were consistent with the clinical diagnosis, among which the ERA criteria and 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria were slightly higher (Kappa>0.6). The results of the consistency comparison between the three criteria showed that the ERA criteria and 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria had a better consistency (Kappa=0.836). CONCLUSION The sensitivity of ERA classification criteria in the diagnosis of ERA was higher than that of 1987 ACR criteria, and was equivalent to that of 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria. There is no significant difference in specificity between these three criteria. The ERA criteria can also identify patients with RA at a very early stage in arthritis with disease duration ≤3 months.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; Radiography ; Rheumatology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; United States

Most common peripheral neuropathy around foot and ankle is diabetic neuropathy, but there are another cause of peripheral neuropathy, such as rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic disease, genetic disease, toxic material, and so on. The main symptom of peripheral neuropathy is pain. The disturbance of sensory and balancing, weakness of muscle, deformity of foot and neuropathic arthropathy are also the symptoms of the peripheral neuropathy. History taking is most important to identify the cause of peripheral neuropathy. Neurological exam have to include the pin prick test, vibration test, 10 g-monofilamant test and ankle reflex test. Simple radiography is essential to observe the deformities or neuropathic arthropathy at foot and ankle. The presence of peripheral neuropathy, involvement and severity can be identified from nerve conduction study. The study of occlusive arteritis is essential for diabetic neuropathy. The medical treatment of associated disease is important but the pain of peripheral neuropathy should be controlled simultaneously. Medicine include the antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids and topical agents. The surgical treatment of peripheral neuropathy include lengthening of Achilles tendon, correction of deformity, the total contact cast and arthrodesis. Surgical decompression of specific nerve might helpful in pain control of peripheral neuropathy.
Achilles Tendon ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Ankle* ; Anticonvulsants ; Antidepressive Agents ; Arteritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthrodesis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression, Surgical ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diagnosis ; Foot* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Radiography ; Reflex ; Somatoform Disorders* ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Facial Dermatoses/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Hand Joints/physiopathology/radiography ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Inflammation Mediators/blood ; Knee Joint/physiopathology/radiography ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/blood/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of oral administration of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB) on adjusting angiogeneic/inflammatory mediators and ameliorating the pathology of bones in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

METHODSWistar rat model of CIA was set up using bovine collagen type II. Fifty rats were divided into five groups randomly: normal, CIA model, DDB treatment, methotrexate (MTX) treatment, and combined DDB+MTX treatment. Ankle joints of rats were imaged with digital X-ray machine to show the destruction of joints. Fore and hind paw and knee joints were removed above the ankle joint then processed for haematoxylin and eosin staining. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived growth factor, interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nitric oxide levels were detected by Griess reagent.

RESULTSCompared with the CIA model group, a remarkable reduction in various angiogenic (VEGF and IL-8) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-4 and COX-2) after treatment with DDB either alone or combined with MTX P<0.05 or P<0.01). Histopathological and X-ray findings were confirmatory to the observed DDB anti-arthritic effect. The DDB-treated group showed amelioration in signs of arthritis which appeared essentially similar to normal.

CONCLUSIONOur data shed light on the therapeutic efficacy of DDB in experimental rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with a choice drug (MTX) and it may be offered as a second-line drug in the treatment of RA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Collagen ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; blood ; Dioxoles ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Radiography ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

A 30 year-old female visited our out-patient clinic with painful joint swelling in both hands and feet. Because she had tested positive for rheumatoid factor, and her inflammatory markers were elevated, the case was initially classified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria. However, radiographic examinations, including simple radiography and MRI, revealed that her peripheral bone lesions were compatible with bone tuberculosis. The patient also exhibited pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) on chest X-ray and CT examinations. She was treated with isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), ethambutol (EMB), and pyrazinamide (PZA), and exhibited a good response to these medications. The patient was diagnosed as having bone TB, and her peripheral bone lesions were resolved using anti-TB treatment. This was an uncommon case of bone TB mimicking RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Classification ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Outpatients ; Pyrazinamide ; Radiography ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatology ; Rifampin ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*diagnosis/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*abnormalities/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Foot Deformities, Acquired/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint/*pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

S100A8 and S100A9 are major leukocyte proteins, known as damage-associated molecular patterns, found at high concentrations in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A heterodimeric complex of S100A8/A9 is secreted by activated leukocytes and binds to Toll-like receptor 4, which mediates downstream signaling and promotes inflammation and autoimmunity. Serum and synovial fluid levels of S100A8/A9 are markedly higher in patients with RA than in patients with osteoarthritis or miscellaneous inflammatory arthritis. Serum levels of S100A8/A9 are significantly correlated with clinical and laboratory markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, and the Disease Activity Score for 28 joints. Significant correlations have also been found between S100A8/A9 and radiographic and clinical assessments of joint damage, such as hand radiographs and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Articular Damage score. In addition, among known inflammatory markers, S100A8/A9 has the strongest correlation with total sum scores of ultrasonography assessment. Furthermore, baseline levels of S100A8/A9 are independently associated with progression of joint destruction in longitudinal studies and are responsive to change during conventional and biologic treatments. These findings suggest S100A8/A9 to be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*blood/pathology/radiography ; Arthrography ; Biological Markers/blood ; Calgranulin A/*blood ; Calgranulin B/*blood ; Humans ; Joints/pathology ; Synovial Fluid/metabolism

Leflunomide, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, is effective for rheumatoid arthritis as monotherapy or combination therapy with methotrexate. The most common adverse effects are diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain, oral ulcer, hepatotoxicity, skin rash, hypertension, weight loss, and interstitial lung disease. The occurrence of pulmonary cryptococcosis in leflunomide treatment has not been reported in Korea. A 74-year-old woman was admitted to hospital due to asymptomatic pulmonary nodule. She was diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis and treated with leflunomide 5 months ago due to treatment failure with methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine. Chest radiograph and computed tomography showed solitary pulmonary nodule in her right lower lung. Pulmonary cryptococcosis was confirmed by needle biopsy of lung stained with Gomori methenamine silver and mucicarmine. The lesion was improved after antifungal therapy for 3 months.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cryptococcosis* ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Methenamine ; Methotrexate ; Nausea ; Oral Ulcer ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Sulfasalazine ; Treatment Failure ; Weight Loss